EPM

INDEPENDENT POSTAL ADMINISTRATION

The first post office in Sharjah was opened on July 10th, 1963 and at the same day the government placed on sale its first definitive postage stamps. Arrangements were made with the British postal agency in Bahrain for international surface and airmail service. On August 6^th, 1964, Sharjah first aerogramme was issued bearing the same design of the first Sharjah definitives issue.

Formula sheets have been recorded used in Sharjah post office with or without postage stamps. The one, which used without stamps are usually sent officially from Sharjah post office, these were tied by the official rectangular box inscribed “Government of Sharjah & Dependencies / General Post Office / Number / Date” in green ink. The official rectangular box cancel was introduced during the year 1963 in Sharjah post office for official use on post office mails.

Only one Sharjah Registered Letter envelope is known used in Sharjah post office during the Independent postal administration. The envelope is 19.5x12.5cm in size, inscribed “REGISTERED LETTER. – This letter must be given to anofficer of the Post Office to be Registered and a receipt obtained for it” in blue ink in Arabic and English. All Sharjah envelopes and postal forms were printed by Al Radhwan Press in Dubai.

Parcels form “DESPATCH NOTE” were rarely seen used in Sharjah post office. It is known used in two different languages, French and English only.

On February 20th, 1965, Khor Fakkan post office the dependency of Sharjah was opened. Gulf Aviation, a BOAC affiliated company has established a twice-weekly air service to and from Sharjah. First Khor Fakkan set were issued on March 20th, 1965. Before the opening of Khor Fakkan post office in Sharjah, envelopes and postal forms were printed by Al Radhwan Press in Dubai. Sharjah stamps and cancels were used in Khor Fakkan post office, and combination usage of Sharjah and Khor Fakkan stamps are known used either in Khor Fakkan or Sharjah post office.

Nine types of cancels are recorded used in Sharjah during the independent postal administration, and almost all types are used in two different colors, black or magenta ink. Six of these types were inscribed “SHARJAH & DCIES” in Arabic and English, two inscribed “SHARJAH - KHOR FAKKAN”, also in Arabic and English, and one inscribed “POSTAGE PAID” in English only.

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